title: [Domain regulation of gene expression in the intercalary heterochromatin of Drosophila melanogaster].
abstract: A significant part of Drosophila genome is repressed in most cells. These areas, called intercalary heterochromatin regions, contain a significant amount of genes. Most of these genes work in well-defined cell types, that is, are tissue-specific. The most numerous class of genes in the intercalary heterochromatin are testis-specific genes. These genes are activated only in maturing spermatocytes and their coordinated activation is necessary for the normal spermatogenesis. Our work aims to study the mechanism of activation of testis-specific genes. We have found that Comr, one of the factors required for their transcription, is associated with extensive regions of chromosomes, which are often coextensive with the repressed parts of the salivary glands chromosomes. However, Comr binding to the large chromatin domains leads to the selective activation of testis-specific genes only. Our results suggest that, at the initial stages, activation of the testis-specific genes involves the entire domains of intercalary heterochromatin.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Maksimov
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Laktionov
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Beliakin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D049750:Genome, Insect; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C471972:comr protein, Drosophila